Ste got out of the train and was in Chester. It was a short walk but he would make it, only 20 minutes. As Ste walked he only realised it was beginning to get dark, however he liked watching the sun set down, it was mesmerising. As Ste walked he began to hear some chatter behind him. Ste turned to see a group of lads his own age stalking behind him only a few feet away. "Oi you're that queer in Hollyoaks aren't you? People were telling us about you" One lad pointed at Ste darkly. "Be a shame if something awful happened to you at this time, stays with us, we'll take care of you" another lad asked. The group were a bunch of thugs. Ste knew what was happening. He was in trouble.

..

"Ste listen to me. I know you love to go out in the middle of the night in London and I know people say London is dangerous. But it is nothing like Chester. Chester is smaller and these new thugs have been seen around Chester lately…and they have been known to attack gay people" Amy looked worryingly at Ste. "Just please do as I say for once!" Amy asked.

"Amy I'll be fine I won't go out anyway, sure why would I? I don't know anyone?!" Ste laughed

He should have listened to Amy

…..

Ste realized that this was the group of thugs who Amy warned about and as he thought of this he noticed that there pace began to get faster. They were almost jogging to him.

Ste burst out into a sprint. And that was when the chase happened.

Ste ran for his life. He cut corners and ran past cars. But the thugs were fast and were still behind him. For the first time in Chester no one near was found. As Ste kept running he cut left and then ran straight down a narrow street when suddenly. It was a dead end. Ste concluded he was not being chased, he was being herded. The group of thugs were behind him panting. "Why did you run faggot? We weren't gonna harm ya that bad, but now you've pissed us off , so don't blame us what happens to ya"

Ste stood at a guarded stance. He remembered when he was young his mam took him to karate lessons…but that was 12 years ago. One man charged at Ste and Ste roundhouse kicked him. Right in the jaw! 'Yes!' Ste thought. The man felled to the ground as four lads charged at Ste. One man grabbed Ste behind him and the other four started to punch him in the stomach. The man on the ground got up. He was the leader. "You think that was funny queer!" He smacked Ste in the face and grabbed his hair. Ste screamed in pain. "Well I'm gonna show you pain!" The thug threatened.

Suddenly Ste felt a release behind him. The man holding onto Ste let go. Something had thrown the man holding Ste against the wall. Ste's vision was very blurry but he made out a dark figure hitting the thugs like a bolt of lightning as blood was spilt all over their faces. Finally the cries of agony had stopped and they were on the floor. The dark figure turned to Ste. He walked closer. Ste felt the world leaving him, he felt sick. He fell to the ground and vomited. And then he passed out.

…

Ste woke up in a startle and then to searing pain in his face and stomach. He was in the hospital. Nurses suddenly rushed to Ste to hold him down "Mr Hay my name is Nurse Nolan and you've been in the hospital for two days to sit back down and relax" Her voice was very soothing and he did exactly as he was told. Amy rushed to his side and held his hand "Oh Ste I was so worried for you, I thought you were gonna be in a coma forever!" Ste was exhausted and he noticed Nurse Nolan injected something in the wires connected to him. He suddenly felt the need to fall asleep. And he sunk back into slumber.

Ste woke up more relaxed than before. Kind of more peaceful. It appeared to be in the middle of the night. Nurse Nolan walked over to Ste and smiled "Hi Mr Hay did you have a nice nap?" Ste nodded politely. Nurse Nolan was stunningly good looking even though she must work long hours and she must be exhausting but somehow she looked amazing.

"Well I sent Amy home to get some rest she has been beside you all week and she needed a good sleep, I will tell her you are awake in the morning. Its 5am" She explained kindly. Ste was very confused "What happened to me?" he asked. Lynsey looked gravely at Ste "You were attacked by a group of thugs, but don't worry you will be fine." "How did I survive?" Ste questioned. "I don't know to be honest…the men were found dead"

…..

"Oh Ste I was so worried for you! I can't believe something like that would happen to you coming home from the library!" Amy cried. "I couldn't sleep for days I was sick with worry for you, the doctors said you had head trauma but that Nurse Nolan told me you were going to be just fine. Oh she is a saint Ste she worked a total of 84 hours for you on the spot. And she didn't need one break she must be God or something because she must be physically exhausted!" Ste sat in silence as Amy kept blabbing on. What had happened that night, something did happen. Then Ste remembered Nurse Nolan "The men were found dead" Ste jolted in shock. Someone or something had murdered them!

Ste turned to Amy and grabbed her hand "Ames what happened to the men who attacked me!" Ste looked petrified. Amy looked puzzled "Why do you care Ste they assaulted you?" Ste tightened his grasp on Amy's hand "Are they dead?" Amy sat in silence "Yea their dead Ste but the police don't think you done it cause …well the way they were killed must have been done by some kind of an animal" Ste looked bewildered "An animal?" Just then two men had entered the room they were middle aged men and one was bald, the other was coloured skin and they did not look happy. Nurse Nolan ran in the room "Excuse me but you are not allowed see the patient right now!" She shouted. "Why can't we see him if she can" The coloured man pointed at Amy. "Because she is a family member" Nurse Nolan exclaimed furiously. "It will only take five seconds" The bald man turned to Ste "Sorry Mr Hay my name is Detective Ross and this is Detective Kelly we work with MI6 and we were wondering if you could remember anything from the other night?" "He can't remember already it will take a couple of days!" Nurse Nolan yelled. Ste sat in silence "I remember". Everyone stared in shock at Ste and Nurse Nolan bit her lip scared.

"I was walking home from the library" Ste looked at Amy "And I err... got chased by these thugs then they beat me up and then…this black figure came out and then…" Ste started to think deeply "I passed out" Ste couldn't remember anything after that. "Wait a second" Ste said "How did I end up here!" He jolted.

"An anonymous phone call told they found you and we found the bodies…Mr Hay we would like to show you some photos we need you to identify if these were the men who attacked you..." Detective Kelly took out some photos from his jacket and showed them to sit. Ste felt vomit crawl up his throat. The picture was of the thugs in a brutalized form. One man had his brains dashed out across the sidewalk; the others had arms and legs ripped off. But the leader of the gang stood out the most.

He had his chest ripped open with his heart missing and nothing more. "Alright enough! You need to leave before I ring security" Nurse Nolan threatened she looked at the detectives in their eyes and said smoothly "Leave now" …both the Detectives left the room without a word. There were a few minutes of silence before Nurse Nolan jumped back to life and turned to Ste and Amy. "I am so sorry about that ha ...bloody cops ... well Ste rest up and I hope to have you out of here by the end of the week"

….

Amy opened the door to the flat and brought Ste in who was on crutches. He limped his way into the sitting room and fell onto the couch exhausted from the journey. "Right Ste I will put the kettle on and we will have tea ok?" She asked Ste nicely. "Yeah I don't mind Ames but don't you have assignments due?" he looked worryingly "No not at all! I was given and extra week because I have to take care of you so; some good news has come from this event because I haven't even opened a page yet!" Amy laughed. She finally laughed.

Ste was watching TV as Amy prepared tea. But he wasn't actually watching television, he was thinking of the events that had happened. What had happened that night? Who attacked those men? And why didn't they attack him. Suddenly Ste realised. Maybe it wasn't to attack them purposely…maybe this dark figure was trying to save him!

Whoever or whatever had saved Ste…he was worried he might try to save him but then think maybe he should be a victim as well ….